Cover

Taken from NahRight.com

As one of the game’s most influential artists, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson has the honour of holding down not one but two separate covers of XXL’s special year-end double issue. In the December/January cover story, the G-Unit CEO breaks bread with XXL to talk about his new album Before I Self Destruct, his big year on the Web with his site thisis50.com, his role in hip-hop and much more. Also included is a 10-year anniversary tribute to the making of the record that first brought 50 to the public, “How to Rob.”

Other features in the first-ever Internet Issue are XXL’s list of the 100 Best Hip-Hop Web sites, articles on Snoop Dogg and OJ Da Juiceman, as well as tribute pieces to rap legends ODB and Mac Dre to commemorate the fifth year anniversary of their passing. For the first time ever XXL has two candidates for Eye Candy of the Year, complete with a reader contest to vote for your favorite. But wait, there’s more as XXL reviews the new Gucci Mane album, The State v. Radric Davis.

XXL’s December/January double issue hits newsstands on December 1.

Nearing the packaging stage of Blueprint 3, Jay-Z stands over New York on October's XXL cover and interviews for the hip-hop magazine in a campaign for his 11th album due out soon. Mr. Carter hits on many topics that see him in headlines. Included with BP3 talk and new singles, "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and “Run this Town,” his Presidential run of Def Jam and being a business, man in the world of hip-hop and out. Some cut-outs from the entire piece below:

CRITICISM OF “D.O.A.”

“I’m not hating on young people. Like, when people say that, I’m like, What are you talking about? It’s just stupid. I’m not hating on young people… I’m not Bill Russell, [saying] Michael Jordan ain’t shit. I’m saying Lil Wayne and Kanye are like LeBron and Kobe. My job as someone at the forefront of the game is to leave it in a better position than when I came in. Same way that Russell [Simmons] left it to me. ’Cause this thing saved my life. Literally. So I have a responsibility to it karmically. And after that it’s on you. I did my part. I made ‘D.O.A.’ I said it. I made the statement. I made the push. Here, y’all take it from here.”

HIS LEGACY AS FORMER DEF JAM RECORDS PRESIDENT

“So if you ask me to grade my performance as the president, I’d say A-plus. No one can bat a 100. It’s impossible. I mean, everyone is looking at my shit. But if we really looked under the hood [of] every single [record exec] and the acts they put out in that time, I’d be comparable to anyone.”

HIS STANDING IN THE GAME

“But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. 
I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it. I’m talking about real run. I’m not talking about years off. I’m talking about straight—boom, boom, boom—back to back. We’re not talking about heritage acts either. We’re not talking about respect what I’ve done. I’m talking No. 1 [albums] 10 times. The Beatles is the only one [to have more 
No. 1 albums]. They got 19, and if I get a surge of creativity, I could make nine albums next year.”

XXL’s October issue includes stories on The Making of The Blueprint, the current state of lyricism in hip-hop, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II and much more. The mag hits newsstands September 15. -Marvin Brandon

Jay-Z covers this months Billboard magazine and reveals the keys to his stacks. The feature by Mariel Concepcion starts below:

NEW YORK (Billboard) - At just about any given moment of any given day -- including this sunlit June Friday afternoon -- Jay-Z is a busy man.

Sitting on a swivel chair at his Roc the Mic studios in downtown Manhattan with a glass of Santa Margherita white wine in hand, he tackles interview after interview with Japanese reporters, pausing only to use the restroom or ask his assistant to get him a refill or an order of food from his sports club, 40/40.

But while he handles his international duties, his Roc Nation team -- seven people, including his assistant, longtime publicist and engineers -- make sure his empire runs smoothly. His employees are scattered around the room, some perched on stools or couches, others standing or sitting on the floor, some with laptops before them. His assistant is booking flights, hotels and car service for the BET Awards, which is taking place that weekend; his publicist whispers on the phone about another magazine story... Story continued here

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The almighty Rolling Stone magazine fronts the legendary Michael Jackson following his passing last week in its' commemorative issue.

Ninety-six pages on the icon 'from Motown to Thriller to Neverland and beyond.' - from Nahright.com - The Rolling Stone issue will be available next week.

via Rolling Stone

How does arguably the greatest rapper on Earth follow up a blockbuster like 2008’s Tha Carter III, an album that moved more than 1 million copies its début week and solidified Lil Wayne’s place in hip-hop history? By shifting gears and attempting to conquer rock & roll. Rap’s alien genius opens up to Mark Binelli about his upcoming rock album Rebirth in a series of revealing interviews for the cover of the new issue of Rolling Stone, on newsstands this week.

“The rock shit just comes from what my life is now,” Wayne, 26, says. “I’ve grown into this person.” He released his first album, 1999’s Tha Block Is Hot, when he was only 17, and built his name on being the busiest rapper in the game, dropping a relentless stream of mixtapes and cameos. (Revisit Weezy’s journey from kid MC to superstar, in photos.) But aside from plucking at electric guitars onstage and in videos, Weezy never let on that his rap career could take such a significant detour. Describing a wild night when he woke up in bed with three or four women he couldn’t name, Wayne reveals he had an epiphany. “I just got — I’m not going to say ’so good’ at what I was doing, but it became such a regularity for me that I got tired of it. And then I said, ‘You know what? I’m not going to rap on this one.’ “

Continue reading ‘The New Issue of Rolling Stone: Lil Wayne Goes Rock’

Diddy graces this months cover of L'uomo Vogue (the Italian version of Men's Vogue) as they continue their new found love affair with Black culture after the Black Issue for Vogue Italia broke records in magazine sales

[Jay-Z's L'uomo Vogue Spread]

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While We're on Diddy's D -

Word on the street is that Sean “Diddy” Combs has conquered yet another piece of the fashion real estate to add to his ever-growing empire. The music mogul has purchased the popular urban clothing line ENYCE from Liz Claiborne Inc, according to reports.

"Enyce is a brand that I have always admired, and they have been a very important player in the young men's sportswear arena for over a decade. I am really excited to bring it into our portfolio of brands that already includes Sean John and Zac Posen,” Diddy said in a release. “Given our track record of success in marketing products such as Ciroc Vodka, Unforgivable by Sean John, and all of our television titles, I look forward to adding our expertise to an already hot fashion line. Our long-term plan is to grow the Enyce brand through innovative marketing, expansion of the menswear and boy's lines, and launching into new licensing categories.”

Combs, whose Sean John label recently celebrated it's 10 year anniversary at New York fashion week, if optimistic about the acquisition, despite the unsteady nature of the global financial system. “The current economic climate may be challenging, but we believe it is also an opportunity, and we are really excited to add Enyce to our lineup.”

Enyce was founded in the Spring of 1996 in New York City. The Brand was bought by Liz Claiborne, Inc. in February 2004 for $114 million.

No word yet on how much Diddy shelled out for the deal. Considering the climate and knowing Diddy, it was probably a deal.

Indeed, Claiborne CEO William McComb seems rather please to unload the denim-based "streetwear" line, which seems out of place amongst the pastel peddle pushers that the company's namesake line produces. The company also owns Kate Spade, Juicy Couture, and Lucky Brand.

"Enyce is a strong brand with a loyal customer following, however the unsettled economic environment and our commitment to properly resource and focus on other brands in our portfolio contributed to this decision," McComb said. "As a leading player in the young men's market, Sean Combs has the expertise and resources to help Enyce endure this difficult period and ultimately thrive. We are pleased that Sean Combs has decided to purchase the brand," he added.

[SOURCE]

This is part two of The Source's 20th Anniversary four-cover special. Nas, LL Cool J, Ice Cube and Queen Latifah get their faces up in The Source.

Cover Two

Cover Three

For the other two covers [CLICK HERE]